By now you’ve probably heard what incredibly scorcher days Melburnians have been having for the past few weeks. Fans, air conditioners, evaporative coolers have been selling like hotcakes just so people could try to keep cool. Another item, I reckon, which is on the hot market right now (or at least, it should be), is sunscreen.

I don’t think I’ve ever used that much sunscreen in my life, until I experienced the brunt of the summer here. One of the sunscreens I’ve been using is Banana Boat’s Ultra Defence SPF 30+.

Description:

Pamper your skin with Banana Boat Ultra Defence SPF30+ Sunscreen Lotion, enriched with botanicals, moisturises and protects your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. This broad-spectrum UVA and UVB sunscreen gives you 30+ times your skin’s natural sunburn protection and 4 hours of water-resistant protection. Its enriched botanical formula hydrates your skin and leaves it with a light, soothing fragrance.

This product can aid in the prevention of premature aging of the skin.

My first impression of the sunscreen was that it actually smelt good. Now you know what sunscreens normally smell like. You get an intense whiff of a chemical-y scent everytime you open that tube/bottle. There’s a light floral fragrance with this one, and it really is a refreshing change.

This sunscreen lotion is richer in texture than most of the sunscreens I’ve used. It also moisturises and hydrates the skin at the same time. My legs are normally very dry, and this helped a lot. However, with its richness in cream, it isn’t sticky on the skin at all. Another plus point there.

A thing about the Ultra Defence though – you get a shiny sheen after rubbing the lotion onto the skin. This sheen goes away after a while. It gave me a glow whenever I use it on my bare legs and arms whenever I go out in shorts and a top. Kinda like a bronzed look, but without the colour :p

This Banana Boat Ultra Defence SPF30+ Sunscreen Lotion was a collaboration with the National Breast Cancer Foundation, hence the pink tube (well, I think it’s purdy). For every tube purchased, $0.10 will be donated to the foundation. So here I am, doing my bit 🙂

This is available at Priceline, Coles, local drugstores for approximately AU$10.

What I like about it: A sunscreen which actually smells good. I was sold! It’s also non-greasy.

What I did not like about it: The shine takes a while to get used to, if you’re not into that whole bronzed-glow look.

Note: Do carry a travel-sized tube of sunscreen in your purse. This way, you can reapply your sunscreen (this is a must for all sunscreens to work effectively) whenever you want. I like to do mine whenever I’m in the car.

Reader Ollie wanted to know what the Envirosax bags looked like when they’re opened up, so here it goes.

Before I go to the pictures, I have to say that I’m not normally a pro-environment person. I’m quite ashamed to say that I do waste paper and water at times, especially on my heavy usage of tissues and loo paper. I am trying my best to keep using those to a minimum though.

However, there is one thing I dislike using, and that’s plastic bags.

Mind you, I do use those thin bags where you use to wrap vegetables in, or wrap food in, but that’s about it. I try to cut down the use of plastic bags as much as I can when I’m shopping. And that’s where these eco bags come in.

So back to the Envirosax bags. I’ve also thrown in the RuMe bag that Beetrice gave me for good measure.

After some calculations, I realised that Envirosax bags are actually cheaper in Australia than in Malaysia! The bags I got were RM30 each, whereas an Envirosax bag here only cost AU$10. Bugger.

Oh well *shrug*.

The Envirosax bags I got were the Mikado Black Flower and Mikado Green.

Bag measurements:
Weight Bearing : 45 lbs / 20 kgs
Individual bag : 50 cms x 42 cms / 19.5″ x 16.5″
Individual rolled up bag : 10 cms x 4.5 cms diameter / 4″ x 1.5″ – 40g weight

As for the RuMe bag, I have to admit that I’ve actually never heard of it, until Bee gave one to me. I found that the RuMe’s material was actually stronger than the Envirosax’s, although in a smaller size. The one Bee got me was the Fall in NY – 5th Avenue, which costs approximately US$10.

RuMe Bags are made from 180 denier polyester, with water-resistant coating.

Individual bag size 15.5” x 15.5” x 4”
Handles are 11.5” long
Three bags roll up to 6” x 2” x 3”
Each bag holds more than 50lbs

These bags are fantastic for holding my shopping, groceries, bottled water, etc. I use the RuMe to hold my wallet, keys and phone when I need to go to the market, or wherever that might get my bag dirty. The polyester on these eco bags make them very easy to clean. Plus they look great too. They’re small when folded, so it hardly takes up any space in my bag.

Oddly enough, I get quite a lot of funny looks in Malaysia when I whip out my Envirosax bag and tell the cashiers I didn’t need a bag. I mean, goodness me, they even give you a tiny plastic bag just to hold a tiny mobilephone pouch, when you can easily slip that into your purse!

If you’ve never used an eco bag before, it’s high time you give it a try. Make it a fashion statement, and reduce the use of plastic bags to save the environment at the same time.

These eco bags sure look better on my arm and shoulder than this anyway.

Beetrice and I had some time in between my cousin’s wedding ceremony and dinner reception; so during that time, instead of heading back to her place to rest, we took the opportunity to visit Tropicana City Mall. More specifically, the clothes store that has Malaysian beauty bloggers raving about – Paperdoll.

First impression of the store? It spells “girly” all over. Mind you, it’s pretty, vintage girly, not cutesy, sickly-sweet girly. I really liked the decor. If I had a clothes shop, I imagine I’d do it just like Paperdoll’s.

Bee introduced me to the owner of the store, Joanna, and I’m glad to say we hit it off 😛

I was very impressed with the fact that for once, a girly store like this stocks clothes for plus-sized girls! I’m always very annoyed when I go shopping for clothes in Malaysia, especially at boutiques, because hardly anything would fit me. So imagine my delight when I saw pretty, girly dresses in my size!

Joanna then introduced me to the highlight of her store – the corsets. I saw them on Bee’s site, and I was intrigued. I knew I had to get one. Joanna helped me try it on, and damn, for the first time, I have boobs! Real big bazonkers! Bloody hell, even I was turned on. I tried on a black lace top over the corset, and that looked even better.

Needless to say, I was hooked, and got myself the corset. It was too bad that the black lace top wasn’t in my size, or I would have gotten that too.

Purchased items are neatly and lovingly packed with tissue and a Paperdoll sticker, before going into a brown paper bag. Definitely a refreshing change from the clothes store I am used to, where they just shove your purchase into bags.

Ta dah! My corset 😉

Joanna taught me how to lace those bad boys up, which I have to say, is still a learning process for me. She suggested using black French silk ribbons instead, which is more decadent. Lincraft, here I come.

She reckons this is something the husband is going to *ahem* enjoy *ahem*. Ooooooh … *wink wink*

I was in fits of laughter when Joanna sold me that corset. Mind you, I had a lot of instructions from her on how to take good care of it. You should have seen how reluctant she was to let it go :p

Other than that, I also picked up a dress from Paperdoll.

This was worn by a mannequin at the front of the store, and it caught my attention. I love the length of the dress; it’s just an inch below the knee, and the material is really soft. This will be great for an afternoon tea (the one above for an afternoon delight. Tee hee hee!).

Needless to say, it was a good shopping experience. I’m glad to have finally met Joanna; ’tis a pity it was only once.

Whenever you’re at Tropicana City Mall, do check out Paperdoll. For those of you not in the area, do check out the website, as you can purchase the items online too.

Paperdoll Boutique
Lot L1-43, 1st Floor,
Tropicana City Mall,
3, Jalan SS20/27,
47400 Petaling Jaya
Selangor
Malaysia